Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Suginami-ku Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Suginami-ku

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,427 per month in Okinawa vs $1,231 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Okinawa vs $1,991 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,030 per month in Okinawa vs $2,751 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 16% more than Suginami-ku, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Okinawa sits 4% above the global median, while Suginami-ku is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 ¥1,512

$6.52 ¥1,018

48.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.32 ¥6,297

$41.54 ¥6,488

-2.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 ¥1,083

$5.03 ¥786

37.97%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ¥653

$3.58 ¥559

16.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ¥230

$1.12 ¥175

31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥158

$0.82 ¥128

23.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ¥313

$2.56 ¥400

-21.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ¥697

$3.29 ¥514

35.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥249

$1.46 ¥228

8.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ¥344

$1.75 ¥273

25.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 ¥621

$3.74 ¥584

6.42%

Eggs

$1.81 ¥282

$2.14 ¥335

-15.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.99 ¥2,809

$12.04 ¥1,880

49.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ¥789

$6.14 ¥959

-17.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.90 ¥3,577

$14.54 ¥2,271

57.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 ¥583

$5.97 ¥933

-37.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥434

$2.89 ¥451

-3.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ¥359

$2.94 ¥459

-21.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ¥823

$4.42 ¥690

19.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 ¥382

$2.66 ¥415

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ¥394

$2.59 ¥405

-2.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥211

$1.27 ¥199

6.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥120

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥614

$3.87 ¥604

1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 ¥1,016

$6.41 ¥1,001

1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ¥306

$1.81 ¥282

8.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ¥539

$2.12 ¥332

62.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 ¥229

$1.35 ¥211

8.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ¥10.6K

$56.8 ¥8,872

19.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 ¥615

$3.18 ¥497

23.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥560

$2.61 ¥408

37.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.87 ¥1,854

$21.23 ¥3,316

-44.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥177

$1.15 ¥180

-1.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.9K ¥3.4M

$22.0K ¥3.4M

-0.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.4K ¥2.4M

$18.9K ¥3.0M

-18.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$165 ¥25.8K

$136 ¥21.2K

21.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.69 ¥4,012

$24.41 ¥3,811

5.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 ¥8,558

$33.10 ¥5,169

65.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 ¥11.6K

$60.4 ¥9,435

22.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 ¥8,822

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥1,952

$12.97 ¥2,026

-3.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$345 ¥53.9K

$635 ¥99.1K

-45.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,827 ¥909.9K

$15.3K ¥2.4M

-62.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ¥8,070

$65.1 ¥10.2K

-20.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 ¥3,766

$33.43 ¥5,221

-27.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ¥12.7K

$62.6 ¥9,768

29.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 ¥15.0K

$105 ¥16.4K

-8.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥64.2K

$509 ¥79.5K

-19.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

$327 ¥51.1K

1.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥134.8K

$1,058 ¥165.2K

-18.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 ¥108.3K

$776 ¥121.2K

-10.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,703 ¥1.4M

$3,694 ¥576.8K

135.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 ¥187.4K

$1,970 ¥307.7K

-39.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,861 ¥290.6K

$2,849 ¥444.9K

-34.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

11.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Suginami-ku: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $411 in Okinawa versus $509 in Suginami-ku. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 53% higher in Suginami-ku, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa versus $42.00 in Suginami-ku. Groceries tell a different story – $337 in Okinawa vs $301 in Suginami-ku – so Suginami-ku wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Okinawa vs Suginami-ku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,140 per month in Okinawa and $1,847 in Suginami-ku. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Suginami-ku, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa and $42.00 in Suginami-ku. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,427 in Okinawa and $1,231 in Suginami-ku. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Suginami-ku, where all-in costs run around $1,231, than in Okinawa at $1,427. In Suginami-ku it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Suginami-ku – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Suginami-ku. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Okinawa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.